Postgraduate in Diplomacy and International Relations

The diplomat of this century is a multidisciplinary actor in a globalized world. In this century, the activity and the profile of diplomatic tasks have been radically transformed due to the need to continue the fast pace of the current times. The diplomat is an expert in public relations, a good talker and negotiator. It is a profession surrounded by a certain romanticism based on popular thinkings considering the diplomat as a kind of spy. This is a legend created by the ideas that the diplomat only served to attend to cocktail receptions and pompous acts. Revising history, diplomacy began with simple meetings between emissaries to discuss “next steps” between tribes, states and empires. Today, the diplomacy is no longer so simple. It has evolved in complex matters that states face in the global world. The “New Diplomacy” deals with topics as diverse as human rights, environment, corruption, technology, terrorism, trade, globalization, added to the recurrent crises and the permanent dispute and wars between nations and businesses which raise the emergence of new actors with international weight in the area of diplomacy. Today the diplomat acts in the field of foreign policy, dealing with the rational behavior, and associated with the achievement of national interests, in such a way that the criterion of judgment to establish if an International policy decision is rational or not, is generally based on establishing whether it is raised with the purpose to promote national goals and reasonable risks. In today’s globalized world, it is necessary to know of International Law, but also of trade, economy, social nets, etc. The diplomats of the new generations must cope with the advances of science and technology and make them part of their work. Pragmatism has become the basic criterion for dealing with the unpredictable situations of every day. Actually, there are rules to be followed – literally – but the versatility, creativity and some abilities to improvisation are, at the end , the tools that can help to solve problems that the regulations would have never imagined in our world characterized by the improvement of the social communications. The evolution of the media and how the Internet is being exploited for political purposes by the citizens around the world, can help us to understand the changes that are taking place in the world, thanks to the use that is given to the new technologies and, at the same time, asking about the implications this evolution has for the analysis and the exercise of international relations and diplomacy. As an example, some experts manifest that The revolution of Egypt is the emergence of new media to an extent that they have named the revolution as Egipt´s Facebook revolution. New tools to combat authoritarian. So the new diplomat must be a global person characterized by possessing a perfect knowledge of the new technologies and of the development of the different branches in our globalized world which is always connected thanks to the internet. In EBES School of Business offers the Postgraduate in Diplomacy and International Relations for those persons capable enough to represent the interests of their respective countries. The online study analyses actual events part of the recent history in order to achieve the necessary capacities to develop an optimum role in the area. The student, the potential diplomat, is going to deal with the analysis of diverse situations in which the intelligence to resolve conflicts is not the only tool, but the experimentation of a wide perspective of circumstances. The professional of the diplomacy should always advocate for the economic growth and the development of his/her country, both at the national level and in the outside. Among other requirements the student, the future diplomat, must have a broad knowledge of languages, being the management of the English fundamental. The diplomat can work in the various Ministries that confirm a country, as well as develop as representative in other nations. It is important to bear in mind that the professional will have to respond to immediate demands, working under pressure and reconciling situations of State. The tasks that a diplomat develops are linked to national and international policies. The professional can serve as an adviser on foreign affairs and international trade, and in addition provide advice and support to the various ministers of the government. Professionals should know the art of negotiating, in addition to analyze and plan work projects, or being an official of the foreign service, as well as an analyst or researcher of international policies. Also the capacity to protect and solve any problems of the citizens of the country. Added to this, these specialized workers also obtain some privileges which consist in the so-called diplomatic immunity; this implies that they are outside of the criminal and civil jurisdiction of the host State. On the other hand, the embassies are immune to the investigation although it is expected that the diplomatic gain access to different issues on a voluntary basis. Another privilege that relates to the diplomatic activities is the principle of extraterritoriality that implies that the Ambassador, his/her home and surrounding property are considered islands of sovereignty of the sending State. Now, however, this practice has been discontinued and the buildings and staff depend on the host State in a relative way. At present, the role of the diplomat has gained a new dimension. The diplomats have to assume the new role of discovering niches of opportunity that generate benefits to the country of origin; for example, the sale of goods and services, and the insertion of the domestic private sector in the host State, as the action in the process of internalization. In a globalized world, each country seeks to further economic and social development and improve the standard of living and the welfare of its population, the economy becomes a priority in foreign policy. The diplomats form part of the efforts committed to promote the economic improvements of their countries. They are contributors of entrepreneurs who want to sell their products, services or projects, and achieve favorable trade and financial agreements with the country in which they are assigned when the issues concerning economy are less predictable. Most countries maintain direct relations between them through their embassies, consulates, permanent missions and representations in international agencies. Their main objective is to exchange and maintain political relations, cultural and economic ones. The relations of international character cannot be improvised. It exists a need to evaluate the objectives and results because the liberalization and the international competition is a reality today. The embassies and commercial offices are essential because they have an exceptional representation and knowledge of the business communities. They can be seen as the key in order to conquest new markets. So the competitiveness of a country is measured by its potential for internationalization. The diplomats protagonize a representative and relevant role in the process of business internationalisation. A factor in international competitiveness lies in the importance of diversifying the economy increasing trade and competitiveness with other countries. The role of the diplomat focuses in being the real face of the integration into the global economy, so this active involvement of diplomacy, allows a more vigorous action and greater synergy between political and economic factors involved in the process. In the countries with the greatest democratic tradition, the foreign policy is considered a State policy, whose principles and objectives are set out in the long term, regardless of the political colors they may have to the alternations in the power. So the majority of the diplomats, technical or commercial Foreign Service officers, are skilled professionals. Who better than the powerful diplomatic or consular offices to assist and advise the companies and promote the country brand and its businesses around the world? To do this, these professionals of foreign policy interact with the actors and mobilize the resources available to implement the diplomacy and their intelligence at the service of the national economy. Public policies should have as a priority role in the internationalization, which has become the main challenge for governments. Today, the citizens and businesses expect effective policies for development, prosperity, an equitable distribution of wealth, etc… The development of a comprehensive strategy of internationalization requires that companies know the markets with different environments. This involves the mastery of the process of large-scale research and the ability to properly analyze the information to make the wise decision with the help of the economic intelligence. The first mission of the State in this matter is to organize these assets of information and advice, providing consistency and setting the standards for their use to promote a coherent strategy at the service of the internationalization. This process makes it necessary to analyze the relationship between economics and foreign diplomacy, redefining the role of governments and companies. This requires the selection of suitable instruments, the establishment of the correct priorities, trusting in the processes of enhancing the diplomatic networks abroad to get a strategy to support the companies and to promote the future success. Added to the suitable instruments is situated the demand for officers with extensive knowledge of these processes and the specific problems of specific organizations. In addition, moving as an actor in these scenarios requires a specific training that is beyond the traditional studied based on terminologies, the memorizing of principles of law, etc. The diplomatic efficient activity begins with a complete understanding of the processes in which it is necessary to act with the help of study cases that help the potential diplomat, the student, to maintain a multidisciplinary attitude when dealing with specific problems. In this sense, the limitations of the profiles of the graduates of degree courses such as Economics, Public Accountant, Business Administration, Law and others, have highlighted the need for training professionals who have specific knowledge to act in the situations of the everyday diplomacy area. Diplomacy and Foreign Relations have integrated the political, economic, legal ,digital concerns which are necessary inputs in order to highly understand complex processes and develop scenarios and executing strategies that allow a better defense of the interests of the public or private entities of the represented country. EBES School of Business has as its main goal the training of professionals capable enough to design and implement the international economy, relations, representation, etc, in the different instances of the State, in accordance with the objectives, priorities of the country and its institutional framework thanks to a postgraduate course in diplomacy and international relations in which the student can see himself/herself as really an active diplomat of our times. A learning experience characterized by the understanding of how to react when faced with international relations, diplomatic behavior, with the employment of violence in armed conflicts, or with the protagonist of the internet in the modern diplomacy of our times. It is essential to understand that diplomacy is not only a concrete study of a science subject to law statements. It can be named as a science which directly interacts with more disciplines based on the experience in which many countries are involved. To be a diplomat is not only necessary to be an expert in international relations but to know how to provide the best tools to implement many advantages to the country; Positivism, peace, cooperation, negotiation, are part of the terminology associated with the job of a professional of diplomacy. A special person concerning aspects such as the socialization, correct behaviour, cultural knowledge, resolution, and many more characteristics; The diplomat must observe, report, negotiate and represent adapting the criteria of the international classical doctrine to the history and current reality of the countries. This issue confirms the atmosphere lived by the diplomats of our times. The analysis of reality under observation and the process of the global information giving relevance to the interests and aspirations of the chosen state represented.